EGID Laboratory Research

Joshua Wechsler, MD, MSCI and his laboratory are involved in a variety of research projects regarding eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic gastritis (EG), with a goal of improving diagnostics and treatments. Dr. Wechsler collaborates with immunologists, cell biologists, bioinformaticians and biostatisticians at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and across the country. Dr. Wechsler’s laboratory is focused on investigating the role of mast cell activation in the mucosal inflammatory changes associated with barrier dysfunction in EoE, as well as T-cell biomarkers and mediators of specific food triggers of inflammation. This involves analysis of mast cells, T-cells, and epithelial cells from biopsy specimens, biomarkers in plasma, serum or urine, primary cell culture of mast cells and epithelial cells, and 3-D tissue modeling of the structural cells in biopsies. Dr. Wechsler is the site investigator for Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Researchers (CEGIR), a multi-centered NIH study for patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Eosinophilic Gastritis, Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, and Eosinophilic Colitis. Dr. Wechsler is also a site investigator for industry-sponsored clinical trials for EGIDs.

Learn more about the Wechsler lab